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The future of surplus food redistribution in the UK: Reimagining a ‘win-win’ scenario

Author

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  • Papargyropoulou, Effie
  • Fearnyough, Kate
  • Spring, Charlotte
  • Antal, Lucy

Abstract

Surplus food redistribution (SFR)ishailedas a ‘win-win’ strategy to address both household food insecurity and foodwaste.However,SFR is condemned as being a ‘band-aid’ solution that addresses neither the fundamental socio-economic causes of poverty,nor thesystematic roots of food waste.This research aims to set an agenda for the future of SFR in the UK for the next five to 10 years, including policy interventionsrequired to achievethis future.To this end, itcriticallyexamines the motivations, challenges andperspectives onSFR in the UK, explores the ideal future scenario of SFR (by reimagining the‘win-win’scenario), and identifies intervention pathways leading to this future. It achieves this through aparticipatory, mixed methods research design of17interviews, explorative scenario building and normative back casting exercises with40relevant SFR stakeholders across the private, public and third sectors.It concludes that SFR paradoxically reinforces the same problems it attempts to solve.The future of SFR lies intruly sustainable food systemsthatmeet the needs of the peopleand deliver socio-economic benefits whilst respecting planetary boundaries. In this future, SFR is no longer required as a solution for food waste or household food insecurity. Finally, the studyidentifiesfive pathways leading to this future:i) rejectingthe SFR ‘win-win’ narrativeii) tacklingsystematic food overproduction iii) eradicatingpovertyiv) balancing uneven power distribution amongst food systems actors, andv) delivering food security within planetary boundaries.The proposed interventions are relevant to food and waste policies,and offer insightsto transition pathways for sustainable food and other socio-technical systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Papargyropoulou, Effie & Fearnyough, Kate & Spring, Charlotte & Antal, Lucy, 2022. "The future of surplus food redistribution in the UK: Reimagining a ‘win-win’ scenario," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:108:y:2022:i:c:s0306919222000136
    DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2022.102230
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